MSc Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
About this program
MSc Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure
The master's programme in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure equips students with interdisciplinary tools to solve future environmental problems and prepare them for careers as environmental engineers. Students gain knowledge of the properties and functions of water and ecosystems, learn how to assess the local and global environmental impact of human activities, and apply advanced methods and modelling tools to define and solve environmental problems.
Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure at KTH
The programme has no tracks and there is a significant degree of freedom for you to select courses within the programme, given that the specific course prerequisites are fulfilled. The courses offered within the programme are based on a combination of theoretical and practical approaches, both in the field and laboratory, using tools such as GIS, different computer models and tools for decision support.
Our seven competence profiles suggest what courses you can choose and which sequences to take the courses for a competitive specialisation. In each competence profile, there is an inherent progression. The different competence profiles are:
- Water Technology; water systems, hydropower, effects of climate change.
- Environmental Geology and Hydrogeology; contaminated areas, environmental geology, geotechnical aspects.
- Water and Wastewater Technology; managing our water resources (drinking water and wastewater).
- Environmental Information Analysis and Management; environmental monitoring, measurement techniques.
- Sustainable Infrastructure; managing infrastructure and natural resources in a sustainable way.
- Environmental Systems Analysis; environmental assessment, life cycle assessment.
- Sustainable Societies; social and economic mechanisms that affect sustainable development.
The programme ends with a degree project that allows you to investigate a problem in-depth under the supervision of experienced practitioners and researchers. The topic for the degree project should be within the programme's scope and relate to knowledge acquired through the courses. The degree project is carried out in Sweden or abroad and can be oriented towards research, technological development at a company or organisation, or a combination of both.
This is a two-year programme (120 ECTS credits) given in English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of Science. The programme is given mainly at KTH Campus in Stockholm by the School of Architecture and Built Environment (at KTH).
Admission requirements
To be eligible for the master's programme in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure, you must meet the listed admission requirements and submit the documents required in your application. We will assess your application according to the selection criteria set for the programme. The same process applies to students with a bachelor's degree from a Swedish university.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree or comparable qualification equivalent to a Swedish bachelor's degree from an internationally recognised university is required. Students following longer programmes that have completed courses equivalent to a bachelor's degree are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students in the final year of undergraduate studies may apply and, if qualified, be conditionally admitted. These applicants must include a written statement according to the instructions given by University Admissions. Students in the final year of a bachelor's programme at a Swedish university do not have to provide a written statement to, if qualified, be conditionally admitted. However, students at Swedish universities must have completed 150 ECTS credits in their programme by 1 February.
English proficiency
English language proficiency equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6 is required. You can meet the requirement by achieving the minimum required score in the following internationally recognised English tests:
- IELTS Academic/IELTS UKVI: An overall score of 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) on written test, a total score of 90. We accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition and Paper Edition. We do not accept TOEFL ITP, TOEFL iBT MyBest, Institutional TOEFL, TOEFL Essentials, or the revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test.
- Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments: the University of Michigan, Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
- Pearson PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online: Score of 62 (writing 61)
- Cambridge ESOL: C1 Advanced (CAE), minimum overall score 180 (points awarded since 2015), or Cambridge English certificate level C1, minimum score 180, or Cambridge English: Advanced
Completed upper secondary and university studies in some countries can also fulfil the requirement.
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Learn moreProgram content
Year 1
Mandatory courses
- Theory and Methodology of Science with Applications (Natural and Technological Science) (AK2036) 7.5 credits
Conditionally elective courses
- Environmental Dynamics/Physical Processes (AE2201) 7.5 credits
- Water and Wastewater Handling (AE2304) 7.5 credits
- Environmental Impact Assessment (AE2501) 7.5 credits
- Environmental Data (AE2503) 7.5 credits
- Strategic Environmental Assessment (AE2507) 7.5 credits
- Applied Hydrology (AE2610) 7.5 credits
- Hydraulic Engineering (AE2612) 7.5 credits
- Environmental Chemistry and Risk Assessment (AE2801) 7.5 credits
- Urban Infrastructure (AG2141) 7.5 credits
- Political Economy for Environmental Planners (AG2142) 7.5 credits
- Sustainable Rural and Urban Development (AG2143) 7.5 credits
- Governance of Land and Water (AG2148) 7.5 credits
- Natural Resources Management Tools (AL2300) 7.5 credits
Year 2
Conditionally elective courses
- Modelling of Water Systems (AE2107) 7.5 credits
- Water Treatment Processes and Technology (AE2302) 7.5 credits
- Engineering Geology (AE2401) 7.5 credits
- Degree Project in Hydraulic Engineering, Second Cycle (AF283X) 30.0 credits
- Degree Project in Urban and Regional Planning, Second Cycle (AG212X) 30.0 credits
- Applied Hydrogeology (AL2301) 7.5 credits
- Degree Project in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure, Second Cycle (AL230X) 30.0 credits
- Degree Project in Strategies for Sustainable Development, Second Cycle (AL250X) 30.0 credits
- Resilience Thinking in Sustainable Planning (AL2511) 7.5 credits
- Life Cycle Assessment (AL2608) 7.5 credits
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the institute website for more information.
Tuition
The full program tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens studying this program is SEK 342000.
Qualification
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure are:
- 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
The programme is transdisciplinary and includes courses that build on natural science and technology and courses that build on social science and planning. Thus, it covers, to a varying degree, several of the sustainable development goals. To what extent is further dependent on what courses you select. Courses in the Water and Wastewater Engineering profile will address goal 6 from a primarily technical point but combined with courses from the Sustainable Infrastructure profile you will acquire the skills to address the goal also from a social and planning perspective. Several opportunities to make combinations like this are available, based on your preferences, and open up for addressing the SDGs Clean Water and Sanitation; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (with an emphasise on Infrastructure) and Sustainable Cities and Communities. Depending on your choice of courses, you can acquire the skills to work as an environmental coordinator, urban water planner, geotechnical engineer or researcher and be part of reaching sustainable development goals.
Continuing studies
Hydrogeologist, environmental coordinator, urban water planner, geotechnical engineer and researcher.
Career paths
Our society has significant challenges in managing a changing climate, developing and securing good water quality, developing systems for recycling materials and nutrients, and developing renewable and environmentally smart energy solutions. Therefore, the needs for environmental engineering expertise are almost endless, and the labour market is very diverse. Graduates will be able to work privately and publicly in environmental consultancies, with contractors, water- and wastewater companies or government agencies, both in Sweden and abroad. Examples of program graduates' employers are SWECO, Stockholm Vatten, WSP, Swedish EPA, Tyréns, Geosigma, COWI, Vattenfall, and SIDA, as well as several international agencies. There are also graduates from the program who go on doctoral studies at KTH or other universities worldwide.&
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About this institute
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Since its founding in 1827, KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical...
Why study at KTH Royal Institute of Technology
KTH Royal Institute of Technology is the largest and highest-ranked technical university is Sweden and ranks among the top ten in Europe. With a strong focus on internationalization, the KTH campus is an arena for bringing highly talented students, teachers and researchers together to share perspectives from around the globe.
Sustainable development is a natural aspect of Swedish society and an integral part of KTH's operations and spirit. KTH is ranked 42 among universities world-wide when it comes to meeting the sustainable development goals, according to THE University Impact Ranking 2022. One of KTH's most important goals is that all graduates have up-to-date knowledge and tools to move society in a more sustainable direction. For each of our master's programmes, you can read about how the programme relates to the sustainable development goals and what knowledge and tools you will acquire to contribute to a more sustainable society.
